Following a turbulent weekend in Austin, Texas, two suspects have been taken into custody in connection with a series of 10 random shootings. Authorities are still searching for a third individual believed to be part of the crime spree.
According to Police Chief Lisa Davis, the apprehended suspects are Hispanic males in their late teens. One of the young men sports medium-length wavy hair, while the other has longer hair.
Investigators revealed that the teens were last seen driving a white KIA Optima. However, they have previously used a variety of stolen vehicles during the attacks, including a black or dark blue Hyundai, a gold Hyundai sedan, and a silver Mazda four-door.
The Austin Police Department confirmed the arrests took place on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, a third suspect is believed to be hiding in the Manor area and remains on the run.
Manor Police have announced that they are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend the remaining suspect.
The arrests occurred just hours after police issued a shelter-in-place advisory as they searched for the suspects linked to the shooting incidents, which resulted in up to four injuries.
The shootings began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning.
The suspects had fired at two fire stations, authorities said, but a motive for the shootings remains unclear.
Police were hunting for two suspects in connection with multiple shootings which left up to four people injured
They were last seen driving a white KIA Optima, though they have previously also used a black or dark blue Hyundai, a gold Hyundai sedan and a silver Mazda four-door as they carried out the attacks
Police confirmed on Sunday that the two suspects have been caught, but a third remained on the loose
‘We don’t have any specific motive that has been identified,’ Mayor Kirk Watson said at a news conference.
‘In fact, these actions appear to be random.’
The first shooting came at 9pm Saturday on Wentworth Drive in east Austin, where the suspects fired toward Fire Station 26, CBS Austin reports.
The second shooting then came at around 8am near the intersection of James Ranch Road and Ballydawn Drive in southeast Austin, where a male victim was shot once and transported to a local hospital, where authorities say he remains in serious but stable condition.
A third shooting happened around 10.50am on Sunday on Montebello Road in southwest Austin, where suspects fired toward Fire Station 32.
Another shooting near the intersection of Burton Drive and Oltorf Street was also under investigation.
A witness there reported that someone in a vehicle had opened fire, possibly following an argument.
One person was shot and transported to a local hospital, where he had to undergo surgery on Sunday.
In total, authorities said four individuals were shot in the teens’ rampage. One sustained serious injuries, while three others suffered minor injuries.
No firefighters were among those injured, as the Austin Firefighters Association reported only minor damage to at least one fire apparatus and both stations.
‘The victims of these crimes and their families are in our prayers,’ the mayor said.
Fire stations were also placed on a citywide lockdown, though crews remained fully staffed and continued responding to calls, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
A shelter-in-place order now remains in several Manor-area neighborhoods including those around Ralph Ritchie Road and Suncrest Road, North FM 973 near Suncrest Road and Tower Road, and the Presidential Meadows, Greenbury and Stonewater subdivisions.
Authorities are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to an arrest, but residents are urged not to approach any suspects or any suspicious vehicles.
